The main activities of the people in the region are agro-based and the many programmes being carried out aimed at improving the infrastructure are just working to improve the agricultural sector. This is a sector viewed as having the greatest potential for productive employment in the future, both for local and national food security requirements. Small and medium-scale commercial farmers need to be given the necessary support in terms of farming requisites and marketing of crop. The province, therefore welcomes investors in such areas. With a rehabillitated road network, the province promises to be one of the highly productive regions in the country, much as it lies along the rain belt.

Several donors are running projects in the social sector and are helping to improve on the health and education facilities. One such programme is the Irish Aid Funded Northern Province Development Programme which has greatly contributed to the rehabilitation of schools through its support to Basic Education Support Programme.